Railroad-switch stand.



No. 717,956. 'PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903. M. WATERS &'B. s. JOSSELYN.RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

uiiiiiiiih "m: 240M315 PETERS 4 :0, mo'roumo WASHINGTDN u a NITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

RAILROAD-SWITCH STAND..

$PEOIFICATION forrning part of Letters'Patent No. '7 17,956, datedJanuary 6, 1903. Application filed September 2, 1902. Serial No.121,745. (No model.)

To all whom it m/aty concern.-

Be it known that we, MINOR WATERS, residing at New Albany, in the countyof Floyd and State of Indiana, and BENAGE S. JOS- sELYN, residing atLouisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, citizensof the United States, have invented a new and useful Railroad-SwitchStand, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to railroad-switch stands, and has particularreference to improvements in switch-stands of the rotary type.

The general object of our invention is to simplify the construction ofswitch-stands, to lessen the cost thereof,'and to so arrange the partsas to enable the repairing'of the stand without removing the same fromits fastening.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic or selflocking rotary switch -stand, and, further, to provide a switch-standwhich shall have more than ordinary leverage upon the switch and whichshall consequently be easy of operation.

The particular object of our invention is to provide a simple, cheap,gravity-locking 10'.

tary switch-stand having one weak member, which in case the switch isforced will be the only part damaged and which may be quickly replacedat little expense without removing the stand from the cross-ties.

Our invention consists generally in a 1'0- tary switch-standcomprisingia base or housing to be secured to the ties, in combinationwit-h a rocking shaft having a vertical bearing in said base andprovided with a crank for connection with the switch-points, and aweighted lever connected with said shaft within said housing foroperating said shaft and said lever being adapted to engage and lookupon said base at the ends of the stroke of the lever to prevent theaccidental'opening of the switch;- and, further, our invention consistsin a rotary switch-stand comprising a base or housing in combinationwith a shaft mounted in said housing connected with the switch-pointsand having a weak portion adapted to yield to force that is exerted fromthe switch-points and suitable means for operating said shaft andlocking same after each operation.

ing.

Our invention also consists in particular constructions and incombination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is an outer side elevation of a switch-stand embodyingour invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view thereof with the top plate or coverof the stand removed. Fig. 3 is avertical section substantially on theirregular line 00 cc of Fig. 2, also showing the target andlantern-standard that is secured to the upper end of the rotary shaft;and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the base or housing on the line y 'yof Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the main part 2 of the base or housing of theswitch is provided with the legs 3, which elevate it a considerabledistance above the cross-ties 4', on which the. switch-stand isfastened, bymeans of spikes driven in the notches 5 of the feet 75 6 onlegs 3. The base or housing is preferably oval-shaped and is completedby the top plate 7, which is secured to the lower part by means of thetwo bolts 8 8, which may be readily removed when it is desired to liftthe top off. The lower part 2 of the base is provided with the verticalbox or bushing 9, that is preferably integral with said part, beingjoined to. the inner and outer walls 2 2" by the integral bridge or web10. The top 7 is provided with a corresponding bearing or bushing 11,concentric with the bushing 9, with a space between them within thehous- The outer side of the top 7 is open to form the slot 12 betweenthe top plate and the upper edge of the lower portion 2. At the ends ofthis slot the lower portion is provided with the deep notches 13 13 toreceive the switch-lever, hereinafter described.

14 is the rocking or rotary shaft of the do vice. The lower portion ofthis fits the bushing or bearing 9 in the part 2, which is bored out toreceive it. The upper portion 14 of the crank-shaft is of less diameterthan the lower portion and fits the bearing 11 in the top plate. Betweenthe large and small portions of the shaft is the square portion 14:"of

'be inserted from the bottom of the base.

The switch-lever is in two parts 15 and 16 The part 15 fits between theadjacent ends of the bushings!) and 11 and is provided with a squarehole to fit over the square portion 14 of the crank-shaft. This is firstplaced in position and then the shaft is thrust upward through the baseand when in proper position is'secu red by means of the set-screw 17 inthe part 15, and which sets against one of the faces of the squareportion of the shaft. The inner end of the part 16 is a yoke 16, thatfits over the end of the part 15 and is connected thereto by the pivotpin or-bolt 18. The outer end of the lever is provided with a weight 16and handle 16. The lever operates in the slot 12- of the base and fitsthe notches 13, upon dropping into one of which the lever serves tofirmly lock the shaft against rotation. The outer end of the lever 16 ispreferably formed or bent so that it will be parallel with the groundwhen the lever is at rest in one of the notches 13. The shaft 14isturned to fit the bearings neatly and on its lower end is provided withthe switchoperating crank 19, which is arranged at substantially rightangles to the operating-lever. The connection to the switch-points ofthe switch is made by the usual rod 20, the end only of which is shownin the drawings. The shaft 14: is preferably of wrought metal, and thecrank 19 is preferably welded thereto and is weaker than the shaft, sothat in case force is exerted upon it when the shaft is locked by meansof a notch 13 and the lever the force exerted will twist, bend, or breakonly the crank 19. In other words, if a train should run through theswitch when closed against it the crank being much weaker than any otherpart of the stand will be the only part damaged, and this damage may bequickly repaired by loosening the set-screw 17, so that the shaft willdrop out of the base and admit of the insertion of a new one in itsplace. The height of the base above the ties plus the space between theties permits this to be done easily. The upper end of the shaft 14 ismade to fit the lower end of the target and lantern stem or standard 22,that is secured to it by setscrew 23. A distinct advantage is secured bythe employment of the heavily weighted switch-lever, which absolutelyprevents the accidental throwing of the lever by shocks communicated toit by a train passing over the switch. At the same time the weight doesnot hinder the operation of the switch, as the weight of the lever iscarried by the upper edge of the lower portion of the base during thetime that the lever is being thrown from one notch to the other to openor close the switch.

Itis obvious that a simple lever may be substituted for the jointedlever shown in the drawings, also that the base or housing may be asingle casting and that numerous modifications of our invention may bemade without. departing from the spirit thereof, and we therefore do notconfine the invention to the specific construction herein shown anddescribed.

Having described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent l. The rotary switch-stand comprising the base or housingprovided with a vertical shaftbearing, in combination with thecrank-shaft arranged therein and having a weak or yielding crank portionfor connection to a switchpoint and the operating and locking leverconnected to said shaft, substantially as described.

2. The rotary switch-stand comprising the low base or housing having ahorizontal slot and vertical notches in its side, in combination withthe short vertical shaft journaled in said base, said shaft having apolygonal portion within said base, and the operatinglever secured tothe polygonal portion of said shaft and comprising two parts that arepivotally connected within said base, substantially as described.

3. The rotary switch-stand comprising the low base or housing providedwith suitable legs and having the horizontal slot in its side, thevertical shaft journaled in said base and having a suitable switchconnection and the operating-lever extending through said slots andsecured to said shaft and supporting the same for operation,substantially as described.

4. In a rotary switch-stand, the low base or housing comprising thelower part 2 and the top 7, slotted and notched as described, and eachcontaining a shaft journal or bearing, in combination with the shortcrank-shaft arranged in said bearings and provided with the polygonalintermediate portion within said base, and, the operating-lever attachedto said polygonal portion of the shaft, substantially as described.

5. In a rotary switch-stand,the base or housing comprising the part 2provided with legs and having the integral bushing 9 and the top 7provided with a bushing 11 and suitably secured upon said part 2, saidparts being provided with a slot 12 and the notches 13, in combination,with the shaft 14 journaled in said bushings 9 and 11 and provided witha polygonal intermediate portion and having the crank upon its lowerend, the operatinglever comprising the part 15 secured to said polygonalportion of the shaft and the weighted part 16 pivoted to said part 15within said base or housing, substantially as described.

6. The rotary switch-stand comprising the base or housing provided witha vertical shaftbearing, the crankshaft arranged in said bearing, thejointed lever having its inner end secured upon said shaft within saidbase,

means for locking said lever upon said base and the crank of said shaftbeing the weakest portion of the device, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

7. In. a rotary switch-stand, the base or housing provided with the slot12 and the notches in its side and having a vertical shaft-bearing, incombination with the crankshaft 14 arranged in said bearingand providedwith the crank 19 and the polygonal portion 14", the target arrangedupon the upper end of said shaft and the operating-lever comprising theweighted portion 16 and the short arm 15, pivotally joined within saidbase, said part 15 fitting said polygonal portion of the shaft and theset-screw 17 whereby said shaft is supported in the base, substantiallyas described.

8. In a rotary switch-stand, the low hollow base or housing providedwith the horizontal slot 12 and the notches 13, 13, in one side andprovided with bearings or bushings 9 and 11, in combination with theshort vertical crankshaft arranged in said bearings and provided with acrank on its lower end, the operatinglever having a weighted outer endand having its inner end secured to said crank-shaft between saidbearings 9 and 11, said lever being adapted for vertical movement insaid notches 13 and slot 12 and adapted to fall into said notches,substantially as described.

9. In a rotary switch-stand, the low base of less height than width andprovided with the integral bearings 9 and 11, and also having thehorizontal slot 12 and the notches 13, 13, in its side, incombinationwith the crankshaft 14 having an upper end of reduced size,

held in said bearing 11, the weak crank upon the lower end of said shaftand the operating and locking lever 16 movable in said slot and havingits inner end attached to said shaft between the bearings 9 and 11,substantially as described. a

10. The rotary switch-stand comprising the oval body provided with thebearings 9 and 11, the side slot 12 and notches 13 and also having theshort legs 3 provided with feet to be secured upon the ties, incombination with the short shaft 14 held in said bearings 9 and 11 andprovided with a crank on its lower end and a target-step on its upperend and the weighted lever 16 jointed within said base, and having itsinner end attached to said shaft between said bearings 9 and 11,substantially as described.

11. In a rotary switch-stand, the low base or housing comprising thelower and upper parts 2 and 7 of substantially the same horizontalconfiguration, said upper part being provided with the slot or recess 12and said lower part having the notches 13, in combination with the shortcrank-shaft l tjournaled in said lower and upper parts and theoperating-lever 16 having its inner end secured upon said shaft betweensaid upper andlower parts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses, this 29th day of August, 1902.

MINOR WATERS. BENAGE S. J OSSELYN. In presence of- H. O. WIELAND, O. R.MEIKIN.

